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HeartCrafty2961 , Marta Branco/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread From the UK, where there is no gun culture. There are no gun shops. You cannot defend yourself with a gun, largely because the other guy won't have a gun either.

Final score:

191points

POST

Kariali 7 months ago

That's pretty much the case in whole Europe.

142points

ninjomat , RDNE Stock project/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread England: The number of people including politicians who are publically atheist. Not saying all Americans are crazy religious I’m sure for most it’s just something you put on a census and go to church maybe once a year. But I’ve heard it’s very taboo in the US to nonchalantly say you don’t believe in god, which is sort of the default here if you get chatting about religion.

Final score:

186points

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Gabriele Alfredo Pini 7 months ago

The strangest thing is the number of american, especially on Quora, that think that without a God there is no morality. I'm Catholic, but I try to do good things because it is more beautiful that doing bad things, not because I fear the punishment in this or the other life...

124points

bullet_bitten , Max Vakhtbovycn/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

So, what is culture? In the most simple of terms, culture is everything that a group of people are and know.

In less simple terms, culture is a sort of an identity that a group of people—a community—has that manifests itself through things like language, religion, cuisine, social behaviors and habits as well as the arts.

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I'm a Finn, we go to sauna, naked. It's normal you've seen your friends and family members naked. It's not sexual nor is it embarrassing.

Final score:

180points

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talliloo 7 months ago

i really hate what i call the psuedo-puritanical attitude america has about nudity. growing up, my mom was very much a prude when it came to nudity and i made the decision that i would not raise my child in the same manner. turned out to be a good thing as i have an only son and when i became incapacitated for a while he was the only person i had to help me with all of my self care. i know that some people thought it was weird that we are so comfy with each other but once you realize that the body is just a body sexuality doesn't become an issue.

116points

LongrodVonHugedong86 , Mateusz Dach/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Holidays/Vacation/Paid Time Off - Call it what you like - but Americans simply don’t understand it.

Not to mention workers rights that don’t require you to be part of a Union to have. We just have them as standard.

From dating an American who came to the U.K. to study, she was shocked by how much holidays we get and how secure our rights are as employees.

Final score:

168points

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Marianne 7 months ago

I was shocked when I learned that many employees in the US don't even have contracts.

78points

WyvernsRest , Anete Lusina/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Irish people swear and curse creatively, it’s like punctuation and emphasis in normal speech. And our religious comments are also not appreciated.

“Christ on a bike”
“Jesus, Mary and St. Joe”
“F**k him and the horse he rode in on”.

Final score:

159points

POST

StPaul9 7 months ago

A shower of bastards.

57points

Myrialle , Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

To make it even less simple, a huge chunk of what culture is deals with shared patterns of behaviors and interactions, cognitive structures and understanding learned through socialization. This further brings home the idea of culture being an identity all the while also explaining that it’s an organism of sorts—it grows, it develops, and it reproduces through being passed down to other generations.

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Children in primary/grade school walk to school by themselves or in groups each morning, unsupervised.

We have ~~naked~~ nude areas at lakes and beaches. Or in parks, very rarely. .

Final score:

148points

POST

XanthippeⓐWulf🇨🇦️️🇬🇧 7 months ago

This is the strangest list. Listen, children in the US walk to school all the time. There are some that don't/can't, but walking/bike riding to school is still very much a thing. My partner & I have lived in the US for a while, and our old house was near a school. I guarantee every morning the streets were filled with all the little neighborhood crumb-snatchers hoofing it to school.

54points

WyllKwick , Rodolfo Clix/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Religion not being a thing that comes up, ever, unless there is a very specific reason for it. It doesn't matter if you're atheist, christian, Catholic or muslim. Finns don't care about what anyone else believes, and even those of us who do care, consider it a private issue that you shouldn't pry into unless the person you are talking to offers that information voluntarily.

Final score:

138points

POST

LakotaWolf (she/her) 7 months ago (edited)

I would love to live somewhere where religion doesn’t matter and never comes up in conversations. I live with my boyfriend of 23 years and I lied to the elderly couple across the street that we’re married and Christian, as it was easier than listening to lectures on morality and living in sin and/or dealing with attempts at “converting” us (I’m entirely non-religious.) It’s already bad enough here that my boyfriend isn’t white and I am - we get nasty looks and sometimes outright harassment from some of the older residents here.

76points

ninaeatworld , MART PRODUCTION/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Finns value their personal space. This includes both physical space but also verbally. Let me explain:

If you’re waiting for a bus, for example, stand a few meters apart from other people at the bus stop when possible. Do not sit next to anyone on the bus either if there are still empty pairs of seats. I can easily tell who is foreign when I’m in line in a grocery store because they tend to stand so uncomfortably close to me.

We also appreciate being left alone when out and about (but are happy to give you directions or help in any other way if needed). There’s no need to initiate small talk if you’re alone in an elevator with a Finn because to us awkward silences aren’t generally awkward at all. In general, we value silence and converse in more hushed tones compared to people outside of Finland/northern Europe, especially out in public spaces.

Final score:

136points

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Spidercat 7 months ago

I'm moving to Finland immediately.

93points

And there’s loads of these cultures. Each country has at least one, and if it’s a bigger or more ethnically diverse country, there can be more (in the thousands even). And that’s just one aspect. Cultures can form among regions, districts, or communities that can all focus on the various aspects of identity—communities based around political beliefs, religious ones, hobbies and interests, and the like.

#10

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread We have Right to Roam in Scotland and whenever I've seen this discussed on Reddit, what I assumed to be a near-universally popular policy has been torn to shreds by Americans. It's anathema to them, it fries their brains.

"So a homeless person can just pitch a tent in your yard and you can't get rid of them???!!!!"

"So people can just come onto a farmer's land and destroy his crops????!!!!"

"So people can just get access to military installations and airports??!!!"

No amount of explaining that's not how it works will calm them.

cragglerock93 Report

Final score:

129points

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Susie Elle 7 months ago

Right to roam roughly boils down to: you're allowed to freely explore, as long as you respect the environment, the land and any specific boundaries or restrictions that are in place, as far as I know.

134points

anon , Amina Filkins/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#11

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Informality, especially with service workers. Used to work in a supermarket and an old American guy was complaining about something. I tried to help him and he began ranting, told me I was rude and demanded to be addressed as “sir” to which I burst out laughing, enraging him further.

Final score:

120points

POST

eric p 7 months ago

As an American I have not once seen this happen in a grocery store...

98points

AminoKing , cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#12

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Swedish elevator etiquette:

1. if I can hear you breathe, your presence is too intrusive

2. if you look directly at me, I will mentally stab you

3. if you engage me in small-talk, you are no longer welcome in the country.

Final score:

119points

POST

Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

You should share an elevator with my parents. Shock therapy guaranteed.

34points

publius_decius , Percival Ian Muico/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

One of the key aspects that explain why there are so many cultures out there is the idea of ecology. In different parts of the world, people are surrounded by different physical and social conventions.

While we are all the same as a species, we all have mechanisms that allow us to adapt to our immediate surroundings in different ways.

#13

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread England: I have witnessed Americans fume at the way service works when eating food at a pub. No one will greet you when you walk in, no one will come to your table to take your order. Find a table, read the menu, order and pay at the bar.

Final score:

115points

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Zedrapazia 7 months ago

The Irish/Scots (both have pubs) will also kick you out if you yell at them in their own pub instead of putting up with the bûllshit

84points

Confident_Yam3132 , Elijah O'Donnell/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#14

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Germany: Standing at a red light in the middle of the night on an empty street waiting for the light to turn green. We do not question the meaning of rules.

Final score:

110points

POST

Marianne 7 months ago

In my experience, only few people still do that.

29points

Ace 7 months ago

It's much less common than it used to be, but I do recall the shocked faces of my hosts when I first visited Germany as a 13-y-o and proceeded to cross the road on a red man. There are rules and then again there are _rules_. It's important, IMO, to know which is which.

8points

Nirdavo 7 months ago

Depends whether we are talking about pedestrians or cars. It is -very- rare for a car driver to run a red light, regardless of time. As for pedestrians, many do disregard red lights, but only in specific circumstances. e.g. in the middle of the night when no cars are around, and more importantly, no children are there to watch.

6points

Hans Georg 7 months ago

Had a woman drive over red. It was a pedestrian trafic light. She was smiling at us as if it was no deal.

1point

Cathy 7 months ago

🙋🏻‍♀️

1point

MacintoshID 7 months ago

I do that. Learned to follow the rules when I lived in Germany. Many years later and I still do not look to take shortcuts when it comes to crossing a road or street. FYI - was almost killed by an idiot when I was about 8 years old when they decided the bus unloading kids was not meant for him so he gunned it and missed me by inches. That was decades ago and I can still remember the movement of the car and air around me.

0points

Robert T 7 months ago

I would have thought this is one thing Americans would get, as jaywalking is illegal.

5points

Lord of the laserprinter. 7 months ago

Yeah, about that… picture a dark and empty street in the middle of nowhere Germany. Gets fed up waiting for the little green man to light up and walks over on red…. And gets flattened by a cyclist. I have the scars to prove it.

5points

rullyman 7 months ago

Ooft! Did the cyclist not have lights?

0points

Papa 7 months ago

I pay zero attention to traffic lights when I'm walking. If there are no cars coming, I go.

4points

J C 7 months ago

If I'm walking, I would just cross. If I am driving, I always obey traffic laws even if nobody is around. I think I would just feel so guilty not doing so. Its just ingrained.

3points

Tyranamar 7 months ago

I obey driving rules even when no one is around. Except no u-turn signs. And once when my puppy was dying. The police were gonna have to catch me if they had a problem. Fortunately I didn't get stopped.

3points

And i was like WTF!! 7 months ago

I dont get the post. People do not wait for the light to turn green then proceed? (european here)

2points

Bols 7 months ago

Apparently some nations are more lenient when it comes to crossing on red light, even within Europe, when no one is around. But I also don't get it, I also wait for the green light even when nobody is watching, but maybe it is a personal thing

6points

Ace 7 months ago

No, of course not. The green man is just there to show you that the traffic had a red light so you can expect it to stop; otherwise you just need to make sure no cars are coming before you cross. Yes, it may be technically illegal in a couple of places, like Germany, but it's pretty much normal behaviour in others like the UK.

2points

Nicole Weymann 6 months ago

I guess they were talking about pedestrians, not drivers. Ignoring red lights while on foot (especially at night with no cars in sight) is quite common. Doing so in a car luckily is not

0points

Highball 7 months ago

We in America are a bit more open minded and use our own brains, not to be told what to do like a slave, we abolished it long ago. Hitler would not have been so successful here; we think for ourselves.

1point

Sam Lombardo 7 months ago

German here yelling 'it's the laaaaaaw'!!!! :-)

1point

Queeqec 7 months ago

Austrian here laughs in 'yellow blinking light at night'

0points

Sunny Day 7 months ago

The traffic lights in my town turn off at midnight and are either flashing yellow "caution but go ahead" or red "stop, look, then go". I was used to them when I worked evening shift and got off at midnight. Then I left early one night.... Whoops.

1point

Learner Panda 2 days ago

Compliance with traffic laws is not optional.

0points

Miomirko Buhtlić 7 months ago (edited)

I don't ignore red light, no matter how late or empty a crossroad is, but if it's that late AND there is no traffic, I am more likely to pass through a very late yellow/early red, if it's intersection that is clearly visible on all sides.

0points

Vicki Hardy 7 months ago

I'm British, I always follow the rules.....

0points

Naimah Yianni 7 months ago

Brit living in Spain, I cross the road if I can regardless of the lights, never even thought to stop if there are no cars coming, in either country. I think that´s normal

0points

Chris Sprucefield 7 months ago

In some parts of Europe, traffic lights are more of a general recommendation... at least among the motorists.

0points

Tina Harnish 7 months ago

Best to keep that habit. Then, when you're drunk and navigating automatically, you'll stay safer.

0points

Danish Susanne 7 months ago

I don't always obey this rule, unless I see children in the vicinity, as they cannot be expected to understand when the rule can be safely set aside.

0points

Jeremy Bell 7 months ago

Most people adhere to this law. In England, there are cameras at many lights that activate if you infringe.

0points

Barbara Anger 7 months ago

When I lived in San Francisco, I saw many, many tourists, and dated a nice German guy. He would always, ALWAYS wait for the proper traffic light to cross the street. In fact, you could always identify a German tourist by their inability to jaywalk!

0points

Sven Horlemann 7 months ago

Agree. Strangely, it feels good doing it.

0points

Janice Hannaby 7 months ago

Nobody does that for Pete's sake.

0points

Queeqec 7 months ago

Those traffic lights will be on yellow blinking at night in Austria. Didn't know they handle it differently in our neighborhood.

0points

Rich Black 7 months ago

That's how world War 2 started. Unquestioningly doing as told

0points

Henk Loorbach 7 months ago

that's what got the Germans in trouble before though

0points

B Hobbs 7 months ago

American, stationed in West Germany, late 1970s. Thou shalt not pass on the right. I was driving on the Autobahn by myself. A vehicle, maybe Greek or Turkish country sticker, was in the number one lane, the fast lane, and I pulled up behind them. Flashed my lights, tooted my horn, pointed right, nothing. Traffic starting to back up behind me, lots of lights and horns and hand waving. After about ten minutes I passed them on the right, but no one followed me. Mentioned it to my German girlfriend, she was annoyed with me for about a week. I think if the Polizei had been there, the blocker would have gotten a ticket and the Polizei would have shot me.

0points

Adam Nemo 7 months ago

and shouting at people who dare to break the rule

0points

Sven Grammersdorf 7 months ago

I'm an American and I've never intentionally run a red light in my life or known anyone that does that

0points

The danish woman 7 months ago

Same in Denmark

0points

Dragon Mom 7 months ago

Shouldn't that be a normal thing to do anywhere? You can get a temporary driving restriction for that.

0points

Tyranamar 7 months ago

Wow! A temporary driving restriction! No wonder people obey. Nah. Nothing like that here. If teenagers were being really reckless with it they might get a ticket. But they could just deny they have any ID and give a fake name. It's pretty much expected that pedestrians might go if the road is clear.

0points

Bear Hall 7 months ago

In my experience it depends on where the driver is from both in Europe and the USA. In small town America I haven't seen anybody ignoring traffic lights even in the very early morning hours. In a big European city there were plenty of people breaking the rules even during the day while on the same day in the same country I saw lonely cars waiting for the green light in a small town.

0points

Bewitched One 7 months ago

They aren't talking about driving

1point

pelemele 7 months ago

Not only in Germany.

0points

Smart writer 7 months ago

I think poland learned that germans follow orders a while ago

-1point

kansasmagic 7 months ago

So, "just following orders"? Just kidding - kind of.

-3points

Kikkervelf , Mizzu Cho/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#15

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Belgium: My brother In law once held a bottle of wine in an American supermarket ("Can you put it in the cart, son?") and all of the Americans looked shocked. The idea of a child holding a bottle of alcohol...

They were much more lenient regarding guns though.

Final score:

102points

POST

Candace 7 months ago

Only in America is it easier to buy a gun than a Kinder egg. Guess which one Walmart sells?

76points

SystemEarth , cottonbro studio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

The phenomenon is called adaptive phenotypic plasticity and it’s basically the idea of the same genes leading to different human traits depending on the environment.

And the body is going to keep it that way because evolutionary theories suggest natural selection favors flexible behaviors that are sensitive to such environmental changes. And if you pair that up with the idea that we are stronger and more fit to survive in groups, it only solidifies the role of culture in evolution.

#16

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread In the Netherlands we have something called a 'dropping', which is where we pull our kids out of bed in the middle of the night, dump them in the woods without phones and make them find their own way back. This is very common to do at school camps and with the scouts. Its is completely normal and dutch kids find it rather exciting and not traumatizing at all.

Considering many Americans consider letting your kids play in the front lawn unattended, or letting them cycle around the suburbs by themselves, negligent parenting this is probably quite shocking to them too.

I have to note however, we have no large predators, only a couple wolves, but in very confined areas. Also, the optimal route is commonly only about 30 mins walking, which never happens ofc, and it is hard to not hit a road with signs or a village by walking in an arbitrary direction for half an hour in the Netherlands.

Final score:

100points

POST

Kirsten Kerkhof 7 months ago

Oh, I remember doing a 'dropping' when I was 12! I was equal parts excited and terrified (and soaked because of course it was raining).

46points

Dutch Swimmer Goes Viral For Super Revealing Trunks During 2024 Olympics: “Is This Legal?”

See Also on Bored Panda

Thrill-Seeking Diver Jumps Down Extreme Waterslide, Ignoring The Strict Ban For Women

#17

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread PDA and a lack of prudism. I saw a tiktok of a guy freaking out because a girl was sitting on his boyfriend's lap at the train. If he ever came to Spain he’d leave traumatized due to the huge amount of people that shamelessly make out on the streets, sunbathe naked, etc.

CarangiBooks , Irene Furlan/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

92points

POST

Roxy222uk 7 months ago

Wait - the guy was freaking out because a girl was sitting on his boyfriend's lap? Or did the OP mean 'her' boyfriend's lap. Because those are very different situations.

84points

peggyzyy , Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#18

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I’m non-European but once studied & lived in both US and Europe. Based on my observations of a few European countries (disclaimer ahead: not all
European countries are like this):

- Home schooling being illegal except in very narrow and absolutely necessary cases.
- Surrogacy being illegal
- Good public transportation, which leads to
- Very young kids take buses, trams, underground, or ride bicycles to school and go home
- drinking alcohol at 18 or even younger
- wearing school uniforms
- No AC in the house
- not allowed to talk loudly in public
- parents allow their kids to stay overnight at their partners’ houses & vice versa
- Religion being a personal thing that doesn’t shove down other people’s throats; openly saying you are non-religious/agnostic/atheist
- Comprehensive sex ed > abstinence-only

All I can think so far.

Final score:

90points

POST

JuJu 7 months ago

Yes, the homeschooling part! It is super weird to me that people who can barely manage their life can decide to homeschool their children andcteach them a lot of mumpitz. We have mandatory curriculums and you have to pass certain tests ever so often to finish school. And not every Tweedledee can call themself teacher.

93points

Woman Put A Water Fountain With A Camera In Her Yard, Here Are 24 Photos Of Regular Visitors (New Pics)

See Also on Bored Panda

“Ma’am I Live Here”: Woman Refuses To Back Out Of Driveway, Learns A Lesson The Hard Way

As such, that which makes us all similar and psychologically tending towards the same things is expected of humans sharing similar ecological conditions.

To keep it clear, the idea of environmental conditions isn’t just weather patterns—it’s also things like the social, physical and a slew of other climates, conditions that force us to react in one way or another.

#19

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread I'm am American living in Portugal and one thing that surprised me is you just take off your clothes in front of the doctor.

In the US, they give you privacy and you take off your clothes and put on a gown. Then the doctor or nurse knocks and comes in. Here, you go the gynecologist and you just take off your pants and undies and hop right up into the stirrups. A friend said she was shocked to not be given a robe for her mammogram. Just shirt and bra right off and letting it all hang out.

Makes sense! They're going to see your bits and bobs anyway! It's more efficient to not have that extra step in between.

dutchyardeen , Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

85points

POST

Becky Samuel 7 months ago

To be so ashamed and concerned about your own body is inconceivable to me. The doctor has seen every size and shape of body, yours is no different. The fact that children in the US (and increasingly in the UK) are being trained to have this hangup is so sad.

41points

50 Of The Most Incredible Shots That Were Submitted To The Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

See Also on Bored Panda

French Diver’s “Jewels” In Tight Swimming Trunks Become Talk Of The Town At Olympics

#20

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread We call each other c**t, often as a term of endearment. Eg: "Ah Tommy you're some mad c**t."

I am led to believe the Yanks do not particularly like that word.

TheYoungWan , Bas Masseus/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

83points

POST

El Dee 7 months ago

Australia, Scotland and Ireland. The 'c word' is not used offensively, generally used to men and often used as a compound word eg 'madcunt' or 'goodcunt' It's either said as a compliment or, at worst, mild ribaldry..

20points

GeronimoDK , Yan Krukau/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#21

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Denmark: Babies sleeping outside. In particular babies sleeping alone in public outside restaurants or shops for example.

Final score:

82points

POST

Premislaus de Colo 7 months ago

Nordic countries only

44points

Tubafex , Allan Mas/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

And all of this is important why? Because, tl;dr, we’re better off closer together.

By learning who the other is, we empower ourselves to learn more about what the world is like, and education never hurts anyone (getting hit by a book isn’t an argument against it, Tim).

As such, this way we build trust and respect, and if a particular place becomes rich in multiculturalism that way, it just makes it more interesting to live there.

#22

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Netherlands: Children from around the age of six being able to play outside on the streets and in the woods and meadows with other children on their own, unsupervised. At least in the villages. As long as they are home before supper and the parents have a general idea of where they are.

Final score:

82points

POST

Kirsten Kerkhof 7 months ago

I let my nephew and niece (age 6 and 8 respectively) roam around the neighbourhood unsupervised when I babysit (the parents know this and agree). They know where they are allowed to go, and I'll stay home until they are back, but I trust them and they know it. They're smart little kids.

20points

Woman Moves Out Of Parents' Home After They Asked Her To Give Her Space To Brother, They Freak Out

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#23

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Sweden:

* The ability to immigrate to a non-Swedish citizen who lives in Sweden, as a partner in a same-sex, unwed couple.

* No screens on the windows and no AC in homes, businesses or public transit (and yes, it does get hot here).

* In Stockholm, it takes an average of 9 years of waiting in a rental queue to be able to rent an apartment (or you can sublet for hugely inflated prices). Once you sign a rental contract, your waiting time starts over again. People trade rental contracts in order to be able to move apartments, and rental contracts are sold on the black market.

* University is free.

* TV dramas about teenagers having lots of great sex, shows about sex are shown on national public television.

* Servers/waitstaff are paid a living wage. Tips are not required or necessarily expected.

* A visit to the doctor costs about $25. All healthcare is free for a year after you’ve paid $140/year in fees. Giving birth is free. Cancer treatment is free (once you've paid $140/year).

* Everyone eats mushrooms and berries they find in the woods. Wild foraging is a very common pastime

* Taking a dip in a hole in the ice of a frozen lake is a relatively common winter weekend activity.

* Your running water/warm water/heating is usually paid for by the rental company.

* Salty, ammonia-flavored licorice is considered delicious

* Carrying pepper spray requires a permit

* Carrying any size of knife or sharp object in public is illegal, except when required by work, or some other justifiable purpose (like mushroom hunting).

* Only 6% of the Swedish population has a license to own a firearm

1agomorph , Efrem Efre/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

77points

POST

General Anaesthesia 7 months ago

Did you forget, * Open a can of surströmming if you want to be alone? [Fermented herring. Some say it smells like a dead body. Others liken it to a dirty nappy. In other words, it reeks.]

24points

Woman Refuses To Chip In For Babysitting Because She Doesn’t Even Have Kids, Asks If She’s A Jerk

See Also on Bored Panda

“This Breaks My Heart”: People Stunned—And Angry—After Woman Buys Lost Luggage From Airport

#24

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread The Netherlands: Drinking alcohol around children is very normal. On a nice day you see families sitting comfortably in the park with a glass of wine in their hand and the children playing around them.

Honest-School5616 , Isabella Mendes/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

70points

POST

pelemele 7 months ago (edited)

As Jrog explains, this "culture" of alcohol has the advantage of demystifying its consumption and therefore making it generally safer by allowing you to have a healthier relationship and to know your limits (at least for Most people and that doesn't mean you'll make children drink). And conversely, I'm always surprised to see that in American films and series the slightest occasion seems to be an excuse to have a drink, all the time, at any time of the day or night.

45points

Matttthhhhhhhhhhh , Jer Chung/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

This is also why we ought to support cultural diversity, and there’s a number of ways of doing it. First up, plunge into the pool of diversity as living in one rubs off on you. This is quite literally how culture works.

All the while avoid imposing values that others may have trouble accepting or it’s inconsistent with their own.

#25

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread France. Eating proper meals at school and not snacks. I wouldn't have imagined eating a pack of chips, pizza or industrial slices bread. Lunches were cooked on site and consisted of proper dishes like a restaurant.

Also, non overly friendly staff in shops or restaurants that don't treat clients like royalty. You won't have a waiter come to you ask if everything is fine every 2 minutes. Or very polite staff in shops, quite the opposite. There's a reason French people have the reputation of being rude. ;).

Final score:

68points

POST

Marcos Valencia 7 months ago

Pizza is available as a proper course in Spanish and (of course) Italian schools. But chips and ultra-processed food is, indeed, banned.

21points

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#26

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Austria: As an assistant manager I regularly had to calm American customers down because the staff in our souvenir shop told them that they are busy at the moment (not with other customers) and can't help them with finding certain items. Never any other nation had a problem with that.

(But Americans are usually the only ones anyway asking for the manager. Only once in my career one Chinese woman asked for one but that was it).

ordealofmedusa , Said/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

67points

POST

Marcos Valencia 7 months ago (edited)

I'm a 50 yo Spaniard, and never in my life asked for the manager. Unless I knew the manager and I was there to have a coffee together...

56points

#27

I attended university in 3 different European countries, got my masters, and just paid about 50 euros in total fees for 10 years of studying (I wasn't in a hurry to finish, as classes were interesting, I learned a lot and had fun)

And all these universities were better than expensive private colleges in USA (I work as IT in expensive private college in NYC so I know).

t3chguy1 Report

Final score:

66points

POST

Robert T 7 months ago

I paid zero fees for my degree in the UK, but that was in an age where a smaller proportion of students went on to university. Fees are still paid by the government in Scotland.

23points

kompocik99 , Luke Miller/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

A lot of what accepting other cultures is can be defined as education and understanding. So teach yourself and learn to understand the concepts that describe these other cultures. In turn, learn to respect and accept them, and this will show a good example to others.

By proxy, push away the tide of ignorance and stop folks from exercising insensitivity, bias and prejudice. Being proactive in all of these things will solidify the experience.

#28

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Poland:

Married couples often refer to their parents in-law as just "mom" and "dad".

Everyone is sir/madam until you both decide otherwise. Calling adult person you just met "you" or their name is a big no-no.

Pasta or rice with strawberries and cream is a summer dessert.

Majority of people here would hate the idea of store staff smiling at them and offering help all the time.

Eating inside with your hat on is considered rude af.

Final score:

58points

POST

Josephine Blogs 7 months ago

Pasta and Strawberries? what??

40points

Ostruzina , Lukas Hartmann/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

#29

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread Living comfortably without a car or a driving licence. Even if someone has a car, they only use it for transporting something heavy or going for journeys outside of town, not for daily commuting.

Daily commuting by trains and train stops in every other village.

Parents and other family members letting little children drink alcohol. I'm pretty sure I was a toddler when I had beer for the first time. On the weekends we all had a glass of beer after lunch, and at the family gatherings everyone got a glass of alcohol for a toast. (I hope most young parents nowadays wouldn't do that. I'm 30.).

Final score:

54points

POST

Pittsburgh rare 7 months ago

Anyone over 45 in Spain had a shot of sweet wine given by their grandmas to boost their appetite. The only thing that divide is is what brand we were given 😆

23points

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#30

30 ‘European Things’ That Might Just Make Americans Go “Huh?” As Seen In This Online Thread There appear to be few things as confusing to Americans as a "if you meet the minimum education requirements you're just in" policy in higher education admittance.

41942319 , Pixabay/Pexels (not the actual photo) Report

Final score:

47points

POST

Bols 7 months ago

What I really don't get about US education system (apart from ridiculous tuitions of course, this is just bonkers) is the legacy status. Accepting students based on where their parents studied just gives me monarchy vibes, I think all people should be judged on their own merit and actions, not their parents. I fear many talented students lost their places because some entitled rich kids took their spot only because of who they were born to.

61points